No change in India's position on Afghanistan, it supports 'inclusive' peace process: MEA

NEW DELHI: A day after Army chief General Bipin Rawat stated India cannot be
left out of the "bandwagon" when a number of countries are reaching
out to the Taliban, the external affairs ministry on Friday said
there is no change in the position on Afghanistan and New Delhi supports
the process which is "inclusive" towards achieving peace.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar also said that
India has made it "very clear" to the US that the peace and
reconciliation in Afghanistan should be Afghan-owned, Afghan-led
and Afghan-controlled.

He said this was conveyed during the meetings US President Donald
Trump's special Afghan envoy Zalmay Khalilzad had with external
affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and foreign secretary
Vijay Gokhale.

Responding to a volley of questions on Afghanistan ranging from
Khalilzad's visit to the Army chief's comments, Kumar said:
"Essentially, both sides, we share perspectives on peace and
reconciliation in Afghanistan. Mr Khalilzad briefed EAM and FS on
their aspect as to how the US is trying to achieve peace and
reconciliation in the country."

On the question whether Pakistan's role in Afghanistan was
discussed during the meetings, the MEA spokesperson said this is
something which India has articulated time and again -- the
destabilising role that Pakistan plays.

The situation in Afghanistan was discussed, the Indian side did
reiterate its policy on Afghanistan, Kumar said.

"This is connected to the comments made by the Army chief. Our
position on Afghanistan has been very clear and very consistent. We
have said in the past and we continue to do so that India supports
the peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan," he said.

"We support the process which is inclusive towards achieving this
goal and there has been no change in that position," he said.

His remarks come just a day after Army chief Gen Rawat, during his
annual press conference, said: "A number of countries are talking
to the Taliban. The issue we should address is -- do we have an
interest in Afghanistan. If the answer is yes, then you cannot be
out of the bandwagon."

A day earlier, he had also that there should be talks with the
Taliban but without "any preconditions".

Trump's special Afghan envoy Khalilzad is leading an inter-agency
delegation to India, China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan from January
8 to January 21.